What Can I Do?

[SilasMortimer]

I live in Houston, Texas, very close to the Gulf Coast. As everyone knows, the Gulf of Mexico is in big trouble. As an aquarist, I'd like to do something.

Here's the trouble: my budget is tight and I know saltwater tanks are expensive. Perhaps since I'll be collecting the livestock for free, that will help. However, tank size is very important and maintenance is still more expensive. Still, I see this as very important and would like to see what I can do.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I don't know whether it's more important to save the corals or the fish, but I know that corals are more expensive to take care of. But if there are some cost cutting ways I can make and keep some saltwater tanks for this purpose, I'd really like to know.

And if there's anything else I can do that you can suggest other than keeping specimens and trying to breed them, I'd be happy hearing those, too.

[pufferpuggirl]

That's really admirable of you. I don't have any suggestions, but I think it's great you want to do something to help.
I used to live on the Gulf coast of Florida (north of Tampa) and I'm so glad I'm not there to see all the poor animals. I am very sensitive to animal suffering and I just cannot imagine what those poor beasties have to deal with.

I think we should stick some people in a big swimming pool filled with crude oil and see how they cope.

Sorry ... got off on a tangent there.

[SilasMortimer]

You go right off on that tangent and I'll join you.

[Mek0ng]

Perhaps since I'll be collecting the livestock for free, that will help.

To the best of my knowledge, collecting native species to keep as 'pets' is illegal in all 50 states. Collecting specimens to 'save' from the oil spill is not helping at all and is adding to the detriment already caused to the gulf coast. Live stock is one of the cheaper items when compared to skimmers/lights and other equipment, dont put the lives of wild collected (or any) specimens at risk because you cant afford to do it right. If you want to make the tank a lesser environmental impact, buy only captive breed fish and and aquacultured inverts.

[J-P]

BBQ party!!

you'd be amazed at what a singleton can do.. and obtain sponsors from notable corporations. They all have a "fund" to contribute.

If you don't ask you don't receive.

[Brent]

*pokes my signature*

[SilasMortimer]

Thanks, guys.

@Mek0ng: I certainly understand what you're saying. However, I know that it's legal here in Texas to collect and make a Texas freshwater biotope. I even contacted the Texas Wildlife Department to make sure. Some even encourage it because of things like the Houston bayou system becoming choked with plecos that grew too big for some irresponsible aquarists who threw them out.

So I do understand your concern and why you'd assume that I would be irresponsible with it. However, this is why I asked. If I didn't care if I did it right, then I'd just do it as so many people do.

The trouble is that there is a lot of concern for certain species in the Gulf. as it might take decades for the ocean life to start to recover. I once saw a link for a project to do this very thing, but I lost it and can't find it.

In any case, if I can't do it properly, I won't. But I want to know if I can. As for buying only captive bred, the trouble is that too many of them aren't generally "interesting" enough to be sold anywhere.

You know, I'm reminded of the celestial pearl danio. They're almost extinct in their natural habitat because of the aquarium trade. Considering this, their only hope is captive breeding. It's why I wouldn't buy any that weren't captive bred. By the same token, in a lot of waterways in Asia, released flowerhorns are killing every other species. I can only hope that there's been some sort of conservation efforts, whether it's from aquarists or more official.

I just don't see any official efforts on the species in the Gulf.

@J-P: Awesome idea! Plus, any excuse for a BBQ, right?

@Brent: You mean the link? I'll definite check it out. Thanks.

[Brent]

Haha yeah, the link.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[SilasMortimer]

Thanks! And I appreciate all the help I can get, so I'll be reading that forum for a bit and then posting.

[Brent]

Sounds good.

We really focus on collecting and keeping there, so you'll get tons of help. Also, NR (Nano-Reef.com) has some great threads on the subject with several collectors as well.

My biggest piece of advice would be to keep your tank balanced. Don't overload on predators, basically, as that will cause a huge decline in prey and give you a hell of a lot of trouble. These critters may not accept prepared foods very well, so be careful.

~Brent